Customer Reviews

Savoring Seasons Of Northern Heartland

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I came across this cookbook while browsing the bookshelf of my local public library. Being from Wisconsin, I enjoyed reading the recipes and the stories between! It was a wonderful book, so much so, that I was willing to pay a "late fee" in returning it! We tried several recipes, and loved them! It immediately went to the top of my "Books to buy" list! I am very disappointed to find that it is out of print. Until it is available again, I will be borrowing it from the library frequently!

I have purchased this book for not only myself, but for family members and friends as well. I would describe the work as Alice Waters meets the Midwest. The results are a book you could practically devour! The book emphasizes freshness and local produce as the key to producing outstanding food.

I am also part of the diaspora of Midwesterners on the West Coast, and this book helped reconnect me with those roots. The historical anecdotes about food ways of the past sparked a spirited discussion with my grandparents about their favorite "old-fashioned" foods and our family food traditions.

The recipes are clear and concise with great results. I have tried the Sugar cookies, corn pudding, Radish and Cucumber salad, Roasted Vegetable Strudel (YUM!)and the Chicken Sautee with Seasonal Variations (Summer).

Thanks Lucia!

I no longer live in the Midwest, but my sister gave me this book so that I would never forget my roots in the heartland.

I think I love the "Come for Coffee" and "Pride of the Heartland" sections best. The lebkuchen recipe tastes exactly like my mother's. And I love the gingered fruit crisp recipe, with all of its variations.

As for the savory dishes, they are also tasty. The country sauerkraut would make a kraut lover out of anyone. I've made several of the soups, which were all very satisfying. My Thanksgiving guests always love the wild rice, cranberry, walnut and vegetable salad.

This book also has many asides which comment on the culture which created Midwestern cooking: thrifty farmers' wives, potlucks at the church, and agricultural fairs. In all it speaks to the values of the heartland: frugality, community, generosity, and excellence.

WOW! Thank you to who ever these fun gal's are. This was like finding a time capsule filled with all of the wonderful recipes my gamma told me but I didn't write down. Even a ludite like me can whip up an amazing meal for my whole family!! The pictures are great and capture exactly how my gamma described it, plus, and of course most importantly, the recipes work to capture the heartland and taste great too!!
-Ann Johnson

As part of the Minnesotan diaspora, I love this book for the way it connects me to my homeland. By any measure, it's an excellent cookbook. It includes delicious old-fashioned recipes that reflect the immigrant mix of the upper midwest, as well as charming old pictures, stories, and oral history from local residents. If you've ever wondered how to make real lutefisk, real julekage, real lefse, or just a fabulous chicken pot pie, this is the book for you. And if you're ever in Minneapolis, don't miss dinner at Lucia's restaurant in Uptown.

"Savoring The Seasons of The Northern Heartland" is a pleasure to "read". It's not "just a cookbook". It has stories about the recipes, pictures, sketches and great tips. Cookbooks should be enjoyed, not just used for recipes!

Savoring The Seasons is a cookbook celebrating the seasons and culture of the northern mid-west. The recipes are rich in cultural heritage, as well as history of its people and food of its environment.

Beth Dooley is a teacher and writer who lives in Minneapolis. She has also written the books: The Heartland, Recipes From Massachusetts, Peppers: Hot and Sweet, plus more! Lucia Watson is the chef and owner of the famous Lucia's in Minneapolis. She was nominated for a James Beard Foundation in 2004 for the Best Chef in the Mid-West.



I was actually most impressed by this book. I expected this region of the United States to be devoid of culture or any tasty foods. I was most surprised and extremely impressed by my findings in this book. There are numerous black and white photos from the past of farmers working the fields, and handling their livestock. There are photographs of woman in the kitchen, of Native Americans, and much more. There were also many drawings to help create the history of the people here.

There are 200 recipes contained within this book holding tradition, yet with a modernized touch. The recipes were very easy-to-read and understand. They were extremely straight-forward. The only trouble with the recipes are if you do not live in an area to find yourself rabbit, venison, squab, grouse, quail, or pheasant. But, for me, the book is worth it anyway. The recipes also indicate the cultural heritage of its people: Romanians, Sioux Indians, Poles, Germans, Austrians, Scandinavians, Hungarians, Russians, Czechs and more. Excellent recipes worth trying are: Spiced Blueberry-Lemon Preserves, Mixed Kebabs with Orange-Honey Marinade, Apple Harvest Fruit Tart, and Sausage and White Bean Soup - all eaten by my house of finicky eaters!

Chapters contained within this book include: Milling & Baking; Henhouse & Dairy; Barnyard & Smokehouse; Seasonal Kettle; The Communal Pot; North Woods & Prairie; Deep Lakes & Swift Streams; Backyard Gardens; Preserves & Pickles; Come For Coffee; and Pride of the Heartland.

Interested in learning more of the region which housed people like Laura Ingalls Wilder? Wanting to know more of your own country? Pick up this book, it is a lovely book.